NL roundup: Yasiel Puig ends slump; Dodgers beat Marlins, 6-4

Associated PressWednesday, August 21, 2013

Credit: AP

Los Angeles Dodgers' Yasiel Puig follows through on a game-winning solo home run in the eighth inning during a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2013 in Miami. The Dodgers defeated the Marlins 6-4.

MIAMI — With his first swing of the night, Yasiel Puig ended a slump and silenced speculation he's in trouble.

He came off the bench to hit a tiebreaking home run in the eighth inning and help the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Miami Marlins 6-4 on Tuesday night.

Puig was held out of the starting lineup after going hitless in his past 11 at-bats. He also drew a fine when he arrived late for pregame drills, raising more questions about the 22-year-old's maturity and comportment.

He entered in the sixth inning in a double switch, batted for the first time leading off the eighth and needed only one pitch to break a 4-all tie.

The NL West leaders broke a two-game losing streak, their longest in two months. They won despite blowing a 4-1 lead and hitting into four double plays.

METS 5, BRAVES 3

NEW YORK — Rookie Zack Wheeler beat NL East-leading Atlanta for the third time, pitching shutout ball into the seventh inning and sending New York to victory.

Wheeler improved to 3-0 this year against the team with the best record in the majors. Helped by his midseason promotion from Triple-A, the Mets hold an 8-7 edge over the Braves.

Marlon Byrd and Ike Davis homered and speedy Eric Young Jr. sparked the Mets, stealing two bases, scoring twice and making a diving catch in left field. Catcher Travis d'Arnaud doubled for his first hit in the majors, ending an 0-for-10 rut.

Wheeler (6-2), raised in the Atlanta suburbs, defeated the Braves at Turner Field in his big league debut in June, then topped them at Citi Field in July.

Jorge De La Rosa (13-6) pitched into the seventh to win his third straight start. Dexter Fowler also drove in a run to help the Rockies jump out to a 5-0 lead.

Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado made a fantastic backhanded stop and in-the-air throw to first in the seventh inning to rob Jimmy Rollins of a run-scoring hit.

Rafael Betancourt tossed a scoreless ninth for his 16th save.

Tyler Cloyd (2-3) allowed five runs in six innings in his first major league start since June 12.

DIAMONDBACKS 5, REDS 2

CINCINNATI — Paul Goldschmidt set a club record with his third grand slam of the season and became the first NL player to drive in 100 runs, powering Arizona over Cincinnati.

Goldschmidt connected in the eighth inning off J.J. Hoover, ending the reliever's streak of 23 scoreless appearances. His 31st homer tied him with Pittsburgh's Pedro Alvarez for the NL lead. All of his career grand slams have come this season.

Left-hander Patrick Corbin (13-3) stymied Cincinnati's lefty-dominated lineup, pitching a six-hitter, including Chris Heisey's two-run homer, during his second complete game. Corbin matched his career high with 10 strikeouts.

The left-hander shut down the Reds' left-handed threats — Shin-Soo Choo, Joey Votto and Jay Bruce were a combined 0 for 12 with seven strikeouts.

NATIONALS 4, CUBS 2

CHICAGO — Ryan Zimmerman had two hits and drove in a run, Bryce Harper had two hits and scored a crucial ninth-inning run, and Dan Haren pitched six strong innings to help Washington beat Chicago.

Zimmerman had two doubles and could have had four hits as he lined out to third base in the third inning to start a double play and hit a hard shot at the center-fielder in the seventh.

Haren (8-11) kept the Cubs off-balance despite not throwing a pitch faster than 89 all night. Rafael Soriano gave up a leadoff homer to Donnie Murphy in the ninth before getting the last three outs for his 32nd save in 38 chances.

Cubs starter Chris Rusin (2-3) gave up two runs and 10 hits in 5 2-3 innings.

BREWERS 6, CARDINALS 3

MILWAUKEE — Kyle Lohse beat St. Louis for the first time this season and Sean Halton knocked in a career-high three runs to help lead Milwaukee to victory.

Lohse (9-8) beat the Cardinals in his fourth try this season and improved to 3-5 in nine outings overall against his former team.

Lohse left after six innings with the Brewers leading 6-3. He struck out four, walked two and allowed six hits and three runs, two coming on Yadier Molina's two-run homer in the fourth. Molina also doubled and scored in the second on Matt Adams' single.

John Axford and Brandon Kintzler each pitched a scoreless inning, and Jim Henderson pitched the ninth for his 19th save in 22 chances.

Lance Lynn (13-7) got roughed up in the Brewers' five-run fourth, highlighted by Halton's two-run single with the bases loaded.

PIRATES 8, PADRES 1

SAN DIEGO — A.J. Burnett threw seven strong innings and Pittsburgh had six extra-base hits, including Neil Walker's home run, to beat San Diego.

Burnett (6-8) held the Padres to one run and four hits, struck out seven and walked one. He bounced back from two starts in which he allowed 10 earned runs and 16 hits in 10 innings.

The right-hander improved to 2-5 lifetime against the Padres. His only previous victory against San Diego was a no-hitter on May 12, 2001, while with the Marlins. Burnett walked nine that night.

The Pirates opened a two-game lead in the NL Central over St. Louis, which lost 6-3 at Milwaukee.

The Padres have lost 10 of 14 and tied their season high by dropping 17½ games behind the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers.